Omaha, Neb. - Many predicted the Oklahoma State Univ. to finish at the top of the ladder at the NCAA Tournament this season. After the team's performance at the Kaufman/Brand Open in Omaha, Neb. on Nov. 24, the Cowboys looked primed to prove those critics right.    The Cowboys roped six individual champions and nine finalists in dominating the competition.    True freshman Zack Esposito of Oklahoma State led the way for the Cowboys by winning the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.    Esposito was 4-0 on the day at 141 pounds with two major decision wins, a first period pin and a 5-2 finals decision against Dylan Long of Northern Iowa. Throughout the tournament, Esposito used his quickness and strength in dominating his opponents. Against Long, he took control in the first period with a takedown following an intense scramble near the edge of the mat. He clinched the win with another takedown late in the third period.    With the win, it appears that Esposito will not redshirt this season and will enter the Cowboy starting lineup.    In another action-packed match, Chris Pendleton of Oklahoma State defeated Tyler Nixt of Iowa 4-2 in overtime at 174 pounds. Both wrestlers struggled to score points in the match. Pendleton was deep on numerous shots, but Clark's good counter-defense and folding knees pulled him out of a lot of jams.    In overtime, Pendleton was able to lock Nixt in a bear hug, and after a scramble, came down on top for the win.    Everyone was excited to see transfer Muhammed Lawal of Oklahoma State compete. Lawal did not disappoint fans in his return to Omaha. He pinned two opponents and defeated former Division II adversary Chad Wallace of Nebraska-Omaha 11-5 for the title.    Also winning titles for Oklahoma State were defending NCAA champion Johnny Thompson at 133 pounds and 2002 NCAA All-Americans Skyler Holman at 125 pounds and Tyrone Lewis at 165 pounds.    "It was nice to see our guys compete the way they did. We definitely have some guys who can do more, but today we were able to see our guys in some real action against some tough opponents," Oklahoma State head coach John Smith stated.    "As for getting Zack in the starting lineup, he will have to win a wrestle-off or two before we make that decision, but he looked pretty good today. He showed why we put so much effort into making him a Cowboy," Smith added.    The Univ. of Iowa followed Oklahoma State by having three individual champions.    At 157 pounds, the Hawkeyes Matt Anderson defeated Shane Roller of Oklahoma State 5-1. The win was payback for Anderson, who gave up an eight point lead to Roller in a dual meet last season. Anderson was dominating, scoring two takedowns in the match while also seeing success from the top position.    Iowa's Jessman Smith came away with an individual title after posting a 4-1 win over Willie Parks of Iowa Central Community College at 184 pounds. Parks has committed to attend the Univ. of Iowa next season.    Also impressive was Steve Mocco of Iowa at 285 pounds. Mocco was clearly bigger than last season, and more aggressive on offense as well. He used his patented foot sweep to score early and often against all of his opponents. Mocco pinned his first three opponents before defeating Kellan Fluckiger of Arizona State 9-1.    The biggest surprise for the Hawkeyes was Cliff Moore, who struggled defensively at 133 pounds and did not place in the tournament. Moore was an All-American last year and defeated 2002 NCAA runner-up last weekend in a dual meet, but in his two losses, he surrendered a total of 29 points.    "We didn't wrestle the way we wanted to wrestle," Iowa head coach Jim Zalesky said after the tournament. "We were happy with Anderson, Smith and Mocco, but some of our other guys needed to step up today and they didn't. Moore just kept making dumb mistakes in his matches and Nixt needs to be more aggressive on offense."    Also capturing an individual title was Eric Larkin of Arizona State at 149 pounds. Larkin, who was an NCAA runner-up at 141 pounds last season, was noticeably bigger than last year, and almost looked big for his new weight.    He defeated Jerrod Sanders of Oklahoma State in the finals 4-2.    For complete coverage of the college wrestling season, continue to log on to TheMat.com.    Kaufman/Brand Open  Nov. 23, 2002  Omaha, Neb.    Click Here For Complete Open Tournament Results  Click Here For Complete 20 & Under Tournament Results    125  1. Skyler Holman (Okla. St.) DEC Cody Stites (Okla. St.), 4-0  3. Matt Strawser (N. Dak. St.) DEC Matt Shankey (Iowa), 6-5  5. Derek Stevens (Okla. St.) DEC Chris Saferite (Central Oklahoma), 2-1;SV    133  1. Johnny Thompson (Okla. St.) DEC Jarred Berger (Nebraska), 11-4  3. Adam Keiswetter (Nebraska-Kearney) DEC Mike Simpson (Arizona St.), 7-5  5. Paul Collum (Iowa Central) WBF Erkin Tadzhimeter (Colby CC), FORFEIT    141  1. Zack Esposito (Okla. St.) DEC Dylan Long (Northern Iowa), 5-2  3. Luke Moffitt (Iowa) DEC Ronnie Delk (Okla. St.), 7-2  5. Dana Holland (Arizona St.) WBF Roderick Ratcliff (Nebraska-Omaha), FORFEIT    149  1. Eric Larkin (Arizona St.) DEC Jerrod Sanders (Okla. St.), 4-2  3. Ty Eustice (Iowa) DEC Brandon Pfizenmaier (Nebraska-Kearney), 3-2  5. Garrett Kurth (Luther College) WBF Patrick Williams (Arizona St.), FORFEIT    157  1. Matt Anderson (Iowa) DEC Shane Roller (Okla. St.), 5-1  3. Joe Johnston (Iowa) DEC B.J. Wright (Nebraska), 14-5  5. Travis Koppenhafer (Adams State) WBF Muzaffar Abdurakhmanon (Colby CC), FORFEIT    165  1. Tyrone Lewis (Okla. St.) WBF Drew Kelly (Northern Iowa), FORFEIT  3. Hesston Johnson (Northern Iowa) DEC Levi Prevost (Wyoming), 6-2  5. Nick Frost (Arizona St.) WBF Jesse Reyerson (Luther College), 4:52    174  1. Chris Pendleton (Okla. St.) DEC Tyler Nixt (Iowa), 4-2;SV  3. Eric Hauan (Northern Iowa) DEC Tom Meester (Augustana), 5-0  5. Justin Salas (Wyoming) WBF Bob Koenig (Northern Iowa), FORFEIT    184  1. Jessman Smith (Iowa) DEC Willie Parks (Iowa Central), 4-1  3. Frank Kuchera (Nebraska-Kearney) DEC Sam Kenton (Augustana), 3-1  5. Zach Stalder (Nebraska-Omaha) WBF Tyler Jones (S. Dak. St.), FORFEIT    197  1. Muhammed Lawal (Okla. St.) DEC Chad Wallace (Nebraska-Omaha), 11-5  3. Rusty Blackmon (Okla. St.) DEC Ryan Fulsaas (Iowa), 6-5  5. Sean Stender (Northern Iowa) WBF Brian Kraemer (N. Dak. St.), FORFEIT    285  1. Steve Mocco (Iowa) DEC Kellan Fluckiger (Arizona St.), 9-1  3. Dustin Darveaux (St Cloud) DEC Brad Steele (Wyoming), 5-2  5. Will Gruenwald (Okla. St.) DEC Michael Shedek (Northern Iowa), 3-1